'Ring of steel' taking shape at port

Security report urges additional steps to prevent terrorism

By Kiah Collier

Updated 8:09 am, Friday, November 9, 2012

Photo: Thomas B. Shea

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A security boat and a command center were on display this month in Houston. A global advisory firm has more recommendations for the Houston Ship Channel Security District Board, which helps safeguard the Port of Houston.

A security boat and a command center were on display this month in Houston. A global advisory firm has more recommendations for the Houston Ship Channel Security District Board, which helps safeguard the Port

11/3/12 : Ladane Robertson , a LT tech looks at the talks to Rick Weimer, Kevin McClain and Todd Adamec about how the SITUATOR video screens of the Harris County ITC Mobile Command Center work. The mobile unit was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Ladane Robertson , a LT tech looks at the talks to Rick Weimer, Kevin McClain and Todd Adamec about how the SITUATOR video screens of the Harris County ITC Mobile Command Center work. The mobile

11/3/12 : Brain Brawner a Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Darcy Lefsrud that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Brain Brawner a Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Darcy Lefsrud that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100

11/3/12 : Brain Brawner a Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Darcy Lefsrud that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Brain Brawner a Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Darcy Lefsrud that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100

11/3/12 : From left to right,vCarlton Horton, a Senior Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Schwartz Page and Howard Cohen that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : From left to right,vCarlton Horton, a Senior Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Schwartz Page and Howard Cohen that

11/3/12 : Carlton Horton, a Senior Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Schwartz Page that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Carlton Horton, a Senior Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat to Schwartz Page that was on display at the Marriott South

11/3/12 : Brian Brawner a Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Brian Brawner a Deputy with the Harris County Deputy Homeland Security Marine Division explains the features of the S.A.F.E. boat that was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in

11/3/12 : Gary Herzog, a wireless design engineer talks about the Operator Area of the Harris County I.T.C Mobile Command Center on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Gary Herzog, a wireless design engineer talks about the Operator Area of the Harris County I.T.C Mobile Command Center on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea

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11/3/12 : Ladane Robertson , a LT tech looks at the SITUATOR video screens of the Harris County ITC Mobile Command Center with was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Ladane Robertson , a LT tech looks at the SITUATOR video screens of the Harris County ITC Mobile Command Center with was on display at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea

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A camera on top of a Harris County mobile command center can help with security at the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel.

A camera on top of a Harris County mobile command center can help with security at the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea

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11/3/12 : Board member of the Harris County Houston Ship Chanel Security District watch a "demonstration of the new Harris County public safety broadband Long Term Evolution (LTE) communications system from Motorola Solutions." According to the release, "The system makes possible the relay of high-speed data communication, including real-time video streaming, between fixed cameras and mobile terminals in vehicles." The City of Baytown will conduct a âÄúliveâÄù demonstration of the system using several of its public safety vehicles. Harris County is one of the first to deploy a system like this in the U.S. The move to broadband is kind of part of just technology advancing, but also stems from the push post-9/11 for emergency response entities to be able to communicate better. at the Marriott South Hotel 9100 Gulf Freeway , in Houston, TX.

11/3/12 : Board member of the Harris County Houston Ship Chanel Security District watch a "demonstration of the new Harris County public safety broadband Long Term Evolution (LTE) communications system from

The Houston Ship Channel Security District, a public-private partnership formed to help prevent terrorism and bolster security at the Port of Houston, has grown steadily for nearly three years.

On Thursday, representatives from a global security advisory firm co-founded by Michael Chertoff, the second secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush, outlined ways to increase its effectiveness as it develops a new strategic plan.

The district's governing board was told it should work more closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, rework district boundaries and hire a full-time executive director.

The district consists of businesses near the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel that tax themselves to raise revenue used primarily as matching funds to receive security grants from the Department of Homeland Security. The idea for the district was conceived of by local industry and government and made possible by a state law passed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks.

The district recently secured a $1 million Homeland Security grant to evaluate the security needs of the Gulf Coast.

It has collected more than $4 million a year since 2010 and leveraged that into tens of millions in grant dollars to pay for things like a port-wide security camera system, state-of-the-art communication technology, including a public safety broadband network, underwater systems to detect explosives and a handful of patrol boats and cars manned by various local law enforcement.

In the past few years, "there's been great progress made in a number of different areas," said Timothy Sullivan, representative of the Chertoff Group. He told the board the firm found that the district had gotten "very good value" on its grant expenditures.

"This organization is maturing very rapidly," he said at a meeting before the district's annual luncheon.

But, citing the recent effect that Hurricane Sandy had on East Coast ports, Sullivan said the district could work closer with the Coast Guard and develop a district-wide crisis management plan.

Recommendations in the firm's preliminary report also include hiring a full-time executive director to take some of the workload off the 11 volunteer board members, who represent companies in various zones, as well as Harris County and the cities in it and the Port of Houston Authority.

Marcus Woodring, the authority's senior managing director of port security and emergency operations, works with the district. He said the recommendations represent "a natural evolution" of an organization he described as "a great success."

"I think it's safe to say and fair to say that the security district has accomplished the goals that were originally discussed back in the organizational stages," said Tom Schroeter, a Port Authority staff member who serves on the board. "Now we're looking down into the future."

Board Chairman Robin Riley told luncheon attendees that "the ring of steel that was imagined years ago for our Ship Channel area is nearly reality."

Keynote speaker Chertoff, the former Homeland Security secretary, said that the Houston port is "a rather tempting target" for terrorists as an economic and energy center crucial to the nation. He applauded the collaboration the district has brought in securing it.

"The good news is the people of this community are very good at working together," he said.